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Altyn-Emel State National Nature Park is sprawled in the heart of Central Asia, in the valley of the Ili River, about 150 kilometres away from Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city. The park was established in 1996 to preserve the unique natural complex of this region.

Kolsay Lakes – one of the most beautiful places in Kazakhstan. These lakes are located at heights 1800, 2250 and 2700 metres above sea level. They are distinguished by the unique mountain watershed consisting of three natural zones and amazing variety of rare plants and animals. Kolsay Lakes are considered a pearl of Northern Tien-Shan located in 300 km from Almaty city.

Charyn State National Natural Park is created for the purpose of preservation natural landscapes, which have special ecological, historical and aesthetic value. Owing to favorable combination of territories, included as parts of the National Park, which are different on their functional purpose, they can be used in the scientific, educational, cultural and recreational purposes. The park territory includes a Sharyn River valley.

Big Almaty Lake is located 28.5km south of Almaty up a gorge of the Bolshaya Almatinka River, 2,511m above sea level. The lake is within the Alatau – Eliy National park and both the Gorge and the lake are an attraction for visitors using Almaty as their base. The lake is used for both hydro electric power, and the water supply for the city, but this does not detract from the magnificent mountain scenery.

The Turgen Gorge is well known for its seven waterfalls. The Medvezhy (Bear) falls drop 30 meters in a beautiful setting amidst overhanging cliffs and green fir trees, while the Bozgul Falls, known for the force of their water, have worn away an entire tunnel in the rock. Another notable feature of the gorge are the ancient Chin-Turgen mossy fir forests which cover the ground and form a thick wall of trees.

Turkestan literally means "Land of the Turks" in Persian. It refers to an area in Central Asia between Siberia to the north and Tibet, India and Afghanistan to the south, the Caspian Sea to the west and the Gobi Desert to the east.

If you’re looking for interesting places around Almaty, you shouldn’t miss Assy Plateau, The plateau is located at heights of 2800-3200 meters. Since ancient times, it is being used as pasture. Scientists found remains of ancient humans, who lived here more then 5000 years ago.

The vast Yurt stone is a remarkable sight of the Kaskelen Gorge, Uy-Tas in Kazakh, which is located just on the ridge of a lateral rock. This vast boulder is formed of the monolithic grey granite block without a crack.
The stone Yurt's height is about 5 m, diameter -6 m, weight over 500 tons. There is no other stone around. The sedentry sort rarely visit the Kaskelen Gorge forest zone. Probably, it is for the best, since the Kaskelen Gorge forests are protected by reserves.

Issyk (or Isik- another name for the lake, translated as “a door” from Kazakh) is a picturesque, alpine lake surrounded by unusually beautiful nature of thick forests and spacious flower fields. The lake is located at an altitude of 1760 meters above sea level, in the Issyk gorge of Trans-Ili Alatau, about 70 km east of Almaty.